empatheias_ooc | TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

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*test drive

TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

— TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER —

Welcome to

empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

Date reminders. Reserves open Thursday, August 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Thursday, September 1st.
OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are currently allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!

PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• Prompt D: EVENT SPECIAL. Based on the upcoming/current Piphron event, you are on your way to confront that crabby Arehtei who refuses to trust in anyone but himself. However, before you can even get there, you have to journey deep into the mountains and follow constantly changing and winding tunnels. Yes, you read that right—the paths and tunnels change, never actually going in the same direction. This makes getting lost and splitting up from your travel partner fairly easily. What's more, the labyrinth proves to be one giant trust exercise. The atmosphere is filled with doubt and suspicion, little voices whispering and digging into your deepest fears of betrayal and uncertainty. Is the person you're with really that trustworthy? How do you know they won't just leave you or worse—stab you in the back? Literally. Those who are strong of faith will be able to resist, but even they may waver. To get past the labyrinth, strong bonds will either need to already exist or quickly form, particularly between strangers. Those strong in trust will be able to better persuade and convince those who are susceptible to the suspicions. But other obstacles and challenges lay in wait. Steep walls to climb up or down, giant gaps to cross, a random but precarious rope bridge that could break at any step. And everything here is influenced by emotions. The stronger the will to believe, the more likely they are to pass safely. But when those doubts start to take hold...when it becomes too great to bear, then you will slowly turn to stone.

• Prompt E: The Empatheias-Shaarnath-Otherworlder Collaborative Expeditions need otherworlder crews to venture out into the desolate wasteland of the planet’s surface, and that means YOU. On an airship with several otherworlder allies, you’ve ventured forth on a several-day journey to explore uncharted territory. It’s hot, dry, and deadly if you slip away from your dunamis protection, but absolutely necessary if anyone is ever to find what’s left out there.

Living on an airship in crowded conditions makes for close friends and fierce rivalries. Are you handling the pressure well? Do you seek out others to get to know them, or try to find a place on the ship where no one can bother you?
What’s that in the distance? Is it -- a large terraced pyramid? Do you venture into it, or catalogue it and retreat away to let stronger souls venture within? And if your fellow otherworlders really want to explore, do you go with them? Or try to talk them out of it?
Of course, the wasteland can still suffer fluctuations of emotion—which means that a simple trip off the ship has turned into disaster as the ground beneath you comes alive with writhing black tentacles! Though not large, they are numerous and hungry for blood and flesh. Better hurry back to safety—unless you need to rescue someone else! Or need rescuing yourself...

• Prompt F: With all of the current, living Arehtei now gathered, the next step is to start working on the world at large—and that's not going to be an easy feat when it's basically a giant wasteland, deteriorating with every passing second. So tests must be done first to study how effective efforts can be—and perhaps dunamis may be the key. In a protective area just outside of Shaarnath, those who wish to try and practice their emotions on the actual barren ground are allowed in. These are the types of tasks they can try to accomplish:

Make any type of plant grow and see how long it lasts. This could be a flower, grass, a small tree, or even some kind of crop.
With the aid of a water core, create a small pool of water and have it last as long as possible before the dry earth sucks it all in.
Change the temperature from dry heat to something more comfortable and maintain it for as long as possible.
With the aid of an air core, create pure cloud cover. As a side-challenge, alter the clouds to make it rain, but not storm. The rain should be one fueled by positive emotions, not negative (so no grumpy lightning or gloomy clouds).

And anything else a character may think of that is in relation to "restoring the land." The only thing not available to test is a living creature. Note: This is going to be very difficult and will require a great amount of effort and concentration. Small successes are more likely.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include balloons and/or fire ants.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Bianca doesn't like being rude, but she can't help staring a bit from her own table. Those are some clothes, boys. She's seen some weird outfits before, hanging out with models and all, but this takes the cake.

She can't help feeling a bit relieved when she hears complain, though, it means he doesn't like the outfit either, right?]

If it's so bad, maybe you should change? [When she realizes she say that out loud, she blushes and lowers her hat a little bit, as if trying to hide.] A-ah, sorry! Didn't mean to intrude...

[The sudden shyness reminds him of one of his classmates, in a way. She would've probably said something like that, as a fashion fan. The girl who was talking to him was different, but just that stirs good memories. Ah, how he misses his friends from school. Nino, Marinette, Alya...

Adrien grins and nods friendly. He loves talking to new people.] Nah, that's okay! I wish I could, but I'm in the middle of a modeling gig. I'm usually more of a casual shirt, T-shirt, and jeans sort of guy.

Modeling gig? Waah, you're a model?

[Since he doesn't mind talking to her, the shyness quickly goes away, and Bianca is now getting excited again. Her smile is big and her interest genuine.]

I've met some models at home but most of them are older girls! It's nice to meet you! Ah, sorry about being stuck in those clothes though. They didn't give you any better choices?

Wow, you do? Well, I am back at home. My father is a fashion designer and I modeled some of his outfits. [Adrien isn't really the bragging kind. Even when he's Chat Noir and acts cocky and proud, it's more like teasing around. So despite his dad being one of the most important men in Parisian fashion, and his own face being in all kinds of magazines and billboards, he just leaves it at that.]

There aren't a lot of jobs here for models, so I don't mind this stuffy thing that much since it's for the money. You have to be professional and all. Your work is wearing, not giving your opinion.

So you get, like, tons of cute outfits thanks to your dad? That's really lucky!

[She's a bit jealous, she has to admit, but maybe it's for the best. It's not like she can wear fashionable or fancy stuff while she chases after Pokémon through forests and caves, now can she?

And that last bit... Bianca is getting some serious respect for the guy.]

Doing it for the job... that's what the models at home told me when I asked about their heels. You really are a professional-- ah! I don't think I got your name!

Yeah, I guess. I didn't think about it that way.

[Adrien is smiling politely, but his eyes have this sadness in them. Is it really lucky if you're forced to sacrifice hours of your childhood and adolescence, in order to get approval and attention from your dad? Wouldn't he be happier if he had an ordinary but loving father and he bought all his clothes at a mall? He can get anything he wants as long as it's not open affection.

The metal in the salt and pepper shakers that are on the table is starting to rust, but he doesn't notice.]

Thanks for the compliment! I do try. I'm Adrien Agreste, nice to meet you. [He offers his hand to Bianca to shake. A hand covered in some really tacky fingerless gloves. Oops, the boutique lady's fault.]

[Can she really complain about a hand covered in tacky gloves when her own is full of scratches? Not really.]

It's nice to meet you too, Adrien, I'm Bianca. [She does shake his hand, but she's hesitating, feeling a bit nervous again. Something has changed, even if she can't tell exactly what.] Ah, I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?

[She wouldn't be surprised, she doesn't always think before speaking.]

My pleasure, Bianca.

[Oh no, don't feel bad!]

Um, you said nothing wrong. It's just that my relationship with my father is a bit... tense, I guess. He's strict. But you're right; now that I'm here and I have to pay for my own clothes and anything else, I understand I was lucky to have many closets full of designer clothing. [And the cheese for his magical mascot. That guy is a picky eater and won't eat cheap.]

So you know models?

...fathers can be complicated, can't they?

[These green eyes and soft voice are filled with the most honest sympathy in the world. Her smile is bittersweet, her memories important. It's her moe way to say I feel you bro.]

Papa was angry at me for a long time when I first left home. He's also very strict and overprotective... [She has to chuckle because Adrien's question is just perfect.] Know what, it was a model the helped us understand each other better! Elesa is... just imagine this beautiful, tall woman that carries herself with all the confidence of the world! [It sounds like Bianca truly admires her, and is thankful to her too.] She jumped in and told papa many things that I don't think he wanted to hear but... it helped! Things are still tense between us some times but we're both, like, trying to do our best to listen?

[She fidgets on her seat and fixes her hat, unsure on how much of this is truly advice and how much may be stepping over the line.] What I'm trying to say is-- when you return home, try to talk to him? There's always a chance for things to get better, I think!

[She just broke his heart between her too familiar story and her sad eyes. He gets up from his chair and sits at her table, to be able to put a hand on her shoulder.]

I'm so glad that your friend helped you out. And that your dad is listening more now. But hey, you're living your own life and that's amazing.

Thank you, Bianca. Actually, things have been a bit better lately. I managed to convince him to let me attend public school this year! Of course I still have to follow a strict schedule of photoshoots and extracurriculars, and my chauffeur has to take me and pick me up. It's... limiting. I frequently have to sneak out or bargain to do my own things. [And, cough, super hero stuff.] Oh, but I can have friends now and I can endure everything a bit better. Plus, some of my activities have even helped my pals so I appreciate them.

[Some people probably think it's kinda weird to see the younger boy doing the supportive shoulder grip, but that's not the kind of thought that would ever cross Bianca's mind. She feels content for having found someone who understands, and it shows on the shakers being back to their normal state.]

Hehe, see, things can slowly get better! I'm glad you and your dad are working on it too. [She's about to comment on the chauffeur (wow) but something else calls her attention, something that makes her smile drop a little bit.] You-- you didn't have friends before?

I guess I have to be more understanding of his point of view, but hopefully he'll become less stubborn as I grow up and will see mine, too.

[Ever since his mother vanished, his father has been more paranoid about Adrien. But Adrien misses her, too. Instead of joining in their common feelings, it's just tearing more apart. But that's all hard to explain at the moment, and the question takes the conversation away from his dad's issue.]

Well, I had one, kinda. The only person my age I knew, with all that not-going-to-school thing. But when I started going I really saw what she was like so she's... I'm not calling her my friend anymore because she's a bully. But it's fine, the rest of my class is neat and I have a new best friend now.

Oh. That's kinda sad... The town I grew up in is small, so there aren't many children, but I did have some friends.

[And she misses them terribly, which is shown by the gray clouds appearing above her head. Those clouds though... they suddenly have a small rainbow on them, because Bianca smiles and tries to keep her optimism up for Adrien.]

Well, I hope you can get tons of more friends here too! In fact, you can call me your friend, hehehe.

That sounds really cozy. [He laughs when he sees the rainbow. He can see that Bianca is trying her best.] I'm the opposite; I live in one of the world's largest cities, with millions of people living there. Plenty of people there know my face but I barely know very few. Those who work for my dad and people in the business, and now my teachers and classmates who are great! [Except Chloé and her friends Sabrina. Well, he also knows random people he's saved from akumas, but that has nothing to do with Adrien. It's his life as Chat Noir, magical superhero.]

I hope so too. And actually, I was already thinking of you as my friend before you said anything. [Adrien chuckles. He's so glad, and his feelings help the clouds above disperse.]

[She has to laugh a little bit too - cozy is a way to put it. But busy cities are more exciting!]

Aaaah, we have big cities like that in Unova too! I... got lost the first time I visited, but it was lots of fun. [She blushes because that's kinda embarrassing.] I can't imagine what's like for everyone to know your face though... it sounds like, overwhelming.

[The fact he agrees makes her big smile come out. It isn't often that she gets the same "quick friendship" in return of her own.] Fantastic! We're friends now! Don't you forget that, you hear me? So if you need to complain about your clothes again or talk about dads or like, anything, you know who to call!

As a city boy, I'm glad you had fun in them. [He scratches the back of his head.] It wasn't that bad when it was just magazines, but it's worse since my father put me in the ads of his new cologne. It's just awkward to see my giant profile on the street, and everyone seeing it too.

Never forgetting it, don't worry! [He offers a closed first for Bianca to bump, but he's ready to change it to a handshake if she doesn't understand what he wants.]

[Oh wow, he's really quite famous. Bianca is suddenly feeling quite honored to be his friend... even if Adrien probably would like her to ignore that part. Oops.]

A giant profile! Woah! That's definitely exposed! I hope you're getting the break you need here. [Oh, she understands! It's not a gesture she's used to giving but she's familiar with it, so she does bump his fist without a second thought.] That's the spirit, heh. [Sparkles for the rainbow! She's so happy about this friendship.]

Oh, totally! It might be lonely for a bunch of other stuff, but taking a break in a place where no one knows who I am is fantastic. [FIST BUMP WITH SPARKLES. Although he did like people knowing who Chat Noir is, but you can't have everything.]

So are you here by yourself too, or do you have anyone from your place with you?

[Obviously Chat Noir needs to start building a reputation here-- I mean what.

He says he's lonely and she would feel bad for that, but oh dear, he's now asking about her company and how can she pass up the chance to speak about them?]

I didn't arrive alone, I have my five-- ah, pets with me. But yeah, I was surprised to find people from my world here! Including someone I know! I think that has made it a bit easier, you know?

[He absolutely has to make himself a name.

Despite a tiny little pang of envy, he's actually really happy that Bianca knows people.]

That's fantastic! I'm glad! Five pets, huh? I have... [How should he put it? He shouldn't even talk about his kwami, he's a secret. But Plagg is taking a nap inside his bag in the boutique, and maybe if he's extremely vague it's alright?] It's not my pet, but I feed this weird stray cat-like little guy that sneaks into my house sometimes. Fauna's so wild here, right?

A cat-like little guy? I'd love to meet him some day!

[She looks really excited about the idea. Please show her all your secret kitties, Adrien. At the mention of local fauna, she quickly nods, leaning in and ready to share. Someone that understands!]

The animals here are really weird! I mean, we have something like them at home, but it's only similarities! Those horses can only carry you around and that's it! I mean, I still think they're cute and all... but it's strange!

I can't promise anything, but maybe one day if he wants to show himself!

[Having a secret identity can be freeing but it sucks sometimes. Plagg seems pretty set on not telling any of his friends about him.]

Horses at home are pretty much like the ones here. Well, not like the ponies with the horn and the wings, those are otherworlders too. But the ones who carry people around? Yeah, like ours. What's so strange about them for you?

Aww, is he shy? One my darlings also can be a little shy in new places.

[Of course Adrien doesn't have a dream eater marshmallow, but details. She giggles at the mention of the ponies - boy, does she know that feeling.]

The ponies are so interesting, aren't they? Ah, well... in my world, the animals have powers, not people. So our "horses" are on fire. Or electric!

Edited (typo) 2016-09-20 00:28 (UTC)

More like he's a jerk. He's certainly not shy when nagging for food. Anyway, what are your pets like?

[What.] ...Riding horses or playing polo must be difficult.

Oh! [A jerk, wow. Well, what do you say to that?] In my experience, most pets like asking for food, Adrien. All my guys are very different! Do you want to meet them?

[Because it can be quickly arranged, her tone suggests. His face and his comment make her giggle, she's getting used to people reacting like that to Pokémon.]

A well trained Pokémon won't hurt you! Riding them just takes practice, be like, on the ground, on water or in the air!

TEST DRIVE: SEPTEMBER

B2

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